Klaus Welle

Klaus Welle is a senior German political adviser in the European Parliament and de facto politician. Since January 2007, he has been Head of the Office (cabinet) of the President of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Poettering MEP, in Brussels.

Born in Beelen in July 1964, Welle studied economics at the Witten/Herdecke University, before becoming Head of Foreign and European Affairs for the CDU party in Bonn (1991-94). He made his political reputation by masterminding an unexpectedly strong CDU performance in the June 1994 European elections. Welle then served successively as Secretary General of the European People's Party (EPP), Secretary General of the EPP-ED Group - European People's Party-European Democrats - in the European Parliament, and Director General for Internal Policies in the general secretariat of the European Parliament. During his time with the EPP transnational party and EPP-ED Group, Welle is credited with the strategy of opening the formerly Christian Democrat EPP alliance to a broader range of conservative and liberal political forces, so consolidating the European centre-right. This approach culminated in the EPP-ED Group becoming the largest political force in the European Parliament in June 1999, a position it has enjoyed ever since. In 1991-95, Welle also cut his political teeth as Chairperson of the Democrat Youth Community of Europe. [ [http://www.demyc.org/history/officers/ COCDYC / DEMYC Officers] en icon at the Democrat Youth Community of Europe.]

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